Double Charter Day: Halibut Fishing Out of Santa Cruz

Today was a busy day on the water with two separate charter trips heading out from Santa Cruz Harbor. Both trips focused on halibut fishing, and we learned some good lessons about timing and persistence.

First Trip: Starting with Squid Jigging

Our first charter of the day started by trying to catch fresh squid for bait. We spent about 30 minutes jigging for squid but only managed to catch one. Fresh squid makes great halibut bait, but when they’re not biting, you have to change plans quickly.

After the slow squid bite, we switched to trolling for halibut using frozen squid as bait. Sometimes frozen squid works just as well as fresh, and today proved that point.

Early Success and Frustration

Right away we hooked up with a 20-inch halibut. This fish was under the size limit, so we carefully released it back to the water. It’s always good to see fish, even if they’re too small to keep.

Shortly after releasing the first fish, we landed a nice 12-pound halibut. This was a good keeper that made everyone happy. The fish fought well and was perfect size for the dinner table.

Then we had some heartbreak – we hooked into a much larger halibut but lost it during the fight. Losing big fish is part of fishing, but it still hurts when it happens. From the brief fight, this fish felt like it could have been really special.

Slow Afternoon on First Trip

We kept trolling for another 2 hours after losing the big one. During this time we only caught one more halibut – a 21-inch fish that had to go back because it was under size. The morning bite seemed to slow down as the day went on.

By the end of the first trip, we had one nice keeper and a couple of releases. Not bad, but we knew there were more fish out there.

Second Trip: Much Better Action

The second charter went to the same fishing spot we used in the morning. This time the halibut were much more active and ready to bite. Sometimes the same spot can fish completely different at different times of the day.

The afternoon bite was much better than the morning. We caught 3 nice keeper halibut during this trip. Two of them were 30 inches long, and one was a beautiful 25-pound fish. These were exactly the kind of halibut everyone hopes to catch.

We also had a couple other bites that we missed or lost. When halibut are biting good, there’s usually more action than just the fish you land.

Learning About Timing

This week we’ve noticed that halibut seem to bite better later in the day. The morning trips have been slower, while afternoon and evening fishing has been much more productive. Every week can be different, but right now the later bite seems to be the pattern.

This is good information for planning future trips. Sometimes small changes in timing can make a big difference in your success.

Looking Ahead to Summer

The halibut fishing is only going to get better as we move into summer. As the water warms up around Santa Cruz, the halibut become more active and the bite improves. We’re already seeing good fish, and the best is yet to come.

Summer halibut fishing in Santa Cruz is always exciting, with bigger fish and more consistent action. If today’s fishing is any sign, this summer should be great for halibut anglers.